What is Pycnogenol®?

Author: Angelica Vrablic PhD

-Pycnogenol is equipped with natural beneficial flavonoids.

-Possesses powerful antioxidant properties.*

-Contributes to healthy heart and immune function.*

Pycnogenol® is a unique and powerful natural plant extract derived from the bark of the French maritime pine tree Pinus maritima, native to Les Landes in southwest region of France. Pycnogenol® is a concentrated source of naturally occurring proanthocyanidins and other biologically active components that has been clinically studied for over a decade.

The beneficial components in Pycnogenol® promote antioxidant health, helping to guard against cell-damaging free radicals.* Pycnogenol®’s ability to fight these cell-damaging free radicals help protect the body against oxidative stress, which in turn can contribute to the premature aging of cells.* Scientific studies have found that Pycnogenol® is a powerful antioxidant for the immune system.*

The antioxidant benefits of Pycnogenol® extend to other parts of the body as well, as Pycnogenol® helps maintain healthy eyes and may support skin health.* In addition to contributing to healthy vision and a radiant complexion, Pycnogenol® may be an important nutritional component for women, since it can help remedy the occasional discomforts of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).*

Pycnogenol® promotes healthy heart function and circulation.* In fact, one study found that Pycnogenol® helped maintain blood pressure levels already within a normal range.* Pycnogenol® has been shown to support healthy circulation in the legs especially, helping to maintain capillary health and the veins of the legs.* Additionally, Pycnogenol® supports sugar metabolism, helping to maintain glucose levels already within a normal range.*

For more information on What is Pycnogenol® click here.

Pycnogenol® is a registered trademark of Horphag Research Ltd. Use of this product is protected by one or more of U.S. patents / #5,720,956 / #6,372, 266 and other international patents.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/what-is-pycnogenol-366149.html

About the Author:
Dr. Angelica Vrablic has conducted several clinical trials on supplements for weight loss, joint health and cardiovascular wellness. A frequent guest on popular national radio and TV health shows, she has appeared on programs hosted by Deborah Ray, Frankie Boyer and Dr. Bob Martin, as well as Holistic Healthline and The Heart Show. Dr. Vrablic has worked with several leading natural health companies in nutritional research, including Puritan's Pride™, Vitamin World™, Home Health™ and SISU™.

Top Ten Health Tips

You can use this as a checklist to determine if you are on track with a healthy strategy. If you are not incorporating all the steps then try to add an additional step into your daily regime.

Focus on one step for at least two-three weeks and then once it becomes second nature to you; it’s time to move on to implementing another step. Within a year, you can achieve all the steps and monitor how you are feeling along the way. Positive progress breeds inspiration and will motivate you to achieve optimal health.

Your health is worth it!

1.) Include healthy protein with each meal to keep your blood sugar level even as well as your energy level.

2.) Monitor your sodium intake:

If you ate fairly healthy food, you would probably get between 600-1000 mg of sodium a day. American’s average 4000 mg per day. Equal to 2 tablespoons of salt. So the goal is below the middle point. About 2000 (almost 1 tsp) would be just OK, less is better.

1/4 tsp salt = 600 mg sodium
1/2 tsp salt= 1200 mg sodium
1 tsp salt = 2400 mg sodium

3.) Monitor your sugar intake:

The average American eats approx. 24 lbs. of sugar a year! Hard to believe isn’t it. It’s just not the sugar we notice we are using, but hidden sugars in our foods such as Ketchup, jams, soups, etc. There are 9 teaspoons of sugar in 12 ounces of soda. Plain water would be a better alternative.

Try to keep your sugar intake to 32 grams of sugar daily.

4.) Eat 5 fruits and vegetables daily.

Eat organic whenever possible to lessen the toxic load.

5.) Drink plenty of water.

6.) Limit processed or fast food intake.

7.) Read the nutritional labels on food so you are aware of the nutrients that you are consuming.

8.) Take a healthy multi-vitamin for additional support for your body.

9.) Exercise for at least 30 minutes daily in some form.

10.) Get 10 hours of sleep every day.

Author: Nancy Guberti
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable pressure cooker

Getting A Handle On Antioxidants (A Color Guide For Selecting Foods By Specific Antioxidant Groups)

Author: Dr. Paul Gross

Meet the "New-trients"

Today's consumers are witnessing a new era in how foods are identified. New nutrients, not commonly understood for their health benefits, seem to be popping up on our grocer's shelves every day. Omega fatty acids, newly defined sources of dietary fiber, and antioxidant phytochemicals are examples of healthful plant elements that are creeping into public media reports and water-cooler debates.

Laboratory and preliminary human clinical studies are revealing anti-disease properties of these "nutrients." Extensive food and medical research underway presently will eventually translate the chemical properties into consumer understanding and terminology that we'll grasp and use in everyday conversation.

With such potential significance to public health, the consumer education process should begin now in a way that people, from teenagers to grandparents, can readily understand antioxidants as easily as we now understand calories, carbohydrates, fat percentage, and vitamin C.

The scientific and regulatory bodies for food labeling have a great challenge ahead of them.

There are thousands of plant food sources with suspected health benefits with complicated chemical names that are unfamiliar and can be intimidating. The challenge at hand is to decipher this blizzard of names and to promote better nutrition for our families and for ourselves.

Why Antioxidants?

The beneficial antioxidant chemicals that we get from colorful plant foods represent our best defense against threatening oxidants. While oxidative stress is a normal part of cellular metabolism that occurs even in healthy people, left unchecked, it can lead to damage that accumulates with age.

Normally, oxidative species or "free radicals" are neutralized by antioxidant enzymes and food-derived antioxidants. However, the following circumstances can cause an imbalanced oxidant-antioxidant relationship that allows oxidative stress to go unopposed.

• Contamination by environmental conditions like pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides

• Normal aging

• Poor diets that lack essential nutrients and phytochemicals

• The result of this imbalance is cell and tissue damage that could lead to diseases like:
• Cancer
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Chronic inflammation
• Neuronal degeneration like Alzheimer's disease

The Color Code for Antioxidants

Over the past five years, we have begun a valuable process for recognizing plant food antioxidant qualities by groupings of color—The Color Code, as written in two books entitled The Color Code and What Color is Your Diet? (publication information below).

The following is a summary of those color guides for antioxidants, and an example of how we can begin to classify and categorize the different antioxidants into the food color code.

Summary of the Color Code

This is a general scheme of example foods that can fit into each color class. Keep in mind that there are no firm lines between the classes, which allows for overlap.

1. Red – tomato, pink grapefruit, watermelon
2. Blue/Red/Purple/Black (BRPB) – blueberry, cherry, prune, blackberry
3. Orange/Yellow – carrot, pumpkin, orange, papaya
4. Green – broccoli, kale, spinach, pea
5. White – garlic, onion, cabbage, turnip
6. Brown/Gray – spices, nuts, seeds, endogenous sources


How to Apply the Color Code

Here's a general breakdown of the color groups that have food chemicals with antioxidant qualities:

1. Enzymes (Brown/Gray)
A protein substance with a name ending in "ase", enzymes stimulate biochemical reactions in living cells and help form new compounds that, in this case, would serve antioxidant functions.

Members of this enzyme class of antioxidants include:
• Superoxide dismutase
• Catalases
• Reductases
• Peroxidases
• Transferases

2. Vitamins (Brown/Gray)
Most consumers would already recognize the three main antioxidant vitamins—A, C and E—that are derived from food and supplements common to the public. Vitamins A and E are fat-soluble, providing antioxidant protection in cell structures like the outer membrane and inner nuclear organelles. Vitamin C dissolves readily in body water compartments, so it is well distributed in the body. Of particular note is the important role of vitamin C in protecting vitamins A and E from damaging oxidative free radicals.

3. Phenolics (BRPB)
With more than 8,000 individual chemicals that serve plants as pigments, the phenolics (also called phenols or polyphenols) are water-soluble acids that not only give plants colors, but also differentiate scents, tastes, and bitterness. The large class of phenolics (called flavonoids) is often mentioned in current public media. Quercetin, kaempferol and peonidin are examples of flavonoids that have been in the news recently.

4. Carotenoids (Orange/Yellow, Red)
A fat-soluble group of more than 600 individual chemicals, the carotenoids (e.g., beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin "zee-a-zan-thin") are especially powerful antioxidants. Due to their chemical structure, they are an excellent source of electrons that are aggressively sought by oxidative free radicals. A carotenoid molecule donates electrons to a free radical, sacrificing itself in antioxidant defense. Terpenes and xanthophylls are included in this class.

5. Hormones (Brown/Gray)
A growing field of medical research is identifying normal hormones typically described with cell-to-cell messaging roles in the body as having antioxidant functions. Presently only a few hormones have this identified property such as melatonin, estradiol and insulin, but future research will likely unravel similar functions for the dozens of hormones known in human physiology.

6. Minerals (All colors)
Minerals have elements that enable enzyme activity. Selenium, zinc, manganese, magnesium and copper are minerals involved in hundreds of antioxidant roles in the body.

7. Glutathione (Brown/Gray)
Probably the human body's single most important native antioxidant, glutathione is a water-soluble molecule synthesized from food-derived amino acids. It also depends on lipoic acid (below) for synthesis.

8. Lipid effectors (Orange/Yellow)
Lipoic acid is perhaps the "perfect" antioxidant because it is a small powerful molecule that dissolves readily both in fatty layers of cells and in water – the only antioxidant to do this. Other lipid oriented antioxidants include omega fatty acids, tocopherols (like vitamin E), phytosterols, perillyl alcohol and essential oils such as limonene.

9. Saponins, steroids and stilbenes (Green, BRPB)
Related in this discussion only by their common first letter "s", this group has established antioxidant functions and includes some well-known chemicals such as resveratrol (a stilbene of red wine and dark grapes), brassinosteroid (the growth regulator of plants) and saponin (the waxy covering on plant leaves).

10. Sulfur-containing chemicals (Green, White)
Including organosulfides, tri and diallyl sulfides and sulforaphane, this group from plants like broccoli and cabbage has been shown to have properties affecting antioxidant enzyme activity, inflammatory mediators and tumor growth.

Proposing an Antioxidant Nomenclature

Just as vitamins have been given a nominal identity (Vitamin A, B, C…etc) so too should we refer to antioxidants. This is a new system not yet formally proposed to any regulatory authority or scientific body. Classification of antioxidants must undergo the scrutiny, revision and adoption by scientists, industry and government to be acceptable for food label use in the public.

Here is the proposed breakdown:

1. Antioxidant C – carotenoids
2. Antioxidant E – enzymes
3. Antioxidant G – glutathione
4. Antioxidant H – hormones
5. Antioxidant L – lipid-associated chemicals
6. Antioxidant M – minerals
7. Antioxidant P – phenolics
8. Antioxidant S – saponins, steroids, stilbenes, sulfurs
9. Antioxidant V – vitamins

Over time, the public must feel these proposed antioxidant classes are informative and practical for understanding antioxidants and choosing preferred foods. Time will tell, but this list gives us a simple working structure to get a handle on naming antioxidants.

Reading
* Heber D. What Color Is Your Diet? HarperCollins, New York, 2001.
* Joseph JA, Nadeau DA, Underwood A. The Color Code, Hyperion, New York, 2002.
* Lee J, Koo N, Min DB. Reactive oxygen species, aging, and antioxidative nutraceuticals. Compreh. Rev. Food Sci. Food Safety 3:21-33, 2004.

Copyright 2006 Berry Health Inc.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/getting-a-handle-on-antioxidants-a-color-guide-for-selecting-foods-by-specific-antioxidant-groups-77020.html

About the Author:

Dr. Paul Gross is a scientist and expert on cardiovascular and brain physiology. A published researcher, Gross recently completed a book on the Chinese wolfberry and has begun another on antioxidant berries. Gross is founder of Berry Health Inc, a developer of nutritional, berry-based supplements. For more information, visit http://www.berrywiSEOnline.com

Nutritional Supplements for Bones and Joints

Author: Kevin Moshayedi

Nutritional supplements can strengthen bones, cartilage and joints resulting in improved flexibility, bone strength, and pain relief. Nutritional supplements have disabling effects on inflammatory arthritis and joint pain. Nutritional supplements provide the nutrients needed to lubricate joints and rebuild cartilage, resulting in reduced arthritis and joint pain.

In fact nutritional supplements have become popular alternative treatments for arthritis and osteoporosis. Supplements with calcium, magnesium and vitamin D are very essential for maintaining bone health, as Calcium helps in strong bone formation, Vitamin D helps in Calcium absorption and utilization, and magnesium helps in bone formation and joint support.

Vitamin supplements prevent the breakdown of cartilage. Inclusion of Boron, Copper, Silicon and Zinc in bone health supplement is essential, because Boron activates Vitamin D, and Silicon and Zinc helps in bone formation and osteoporosis support. Vitamins D, A, C, E and B3 supplements help in reducing pain and inflammation in people with osteoarthritis. Vitamin E supplements helps in significantly relieving from arthritis and joint pain.

Nutritional supplements with glucosamine (glucosamine sulfate and N-Acetyl D-Glucosamine), chondroitin sulfate and crucial minerals help to build and maintain healthy, flexible cartilage which is very important for joint health.

Glucosamine has become a popular natural nutritional supplement for the treatment of arthritis especially osteoarthritis. Nutritional supplement containing Glucosamine and Chondroitin plays an important role in the maintenance of joint cartilage.

Nutritional supplement with Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), Manganese and Vitamin C helps in maintaining joint health. Glucosamine and Chondroitin included in this joint health supplement promote wound healing by providing the necessary building blocks for new joint cartilage.

Nutritional supplement with Omega 3 fatty acids helps people with rheumatoid and other inflammatory forms of arthritis and joint pain. Nutritional supplement with Bromelain, a substance derived from pineapple, has natural pain relieving properties, and reduces pain more effectively with fewer side effects. Nutritional supplements made of avocado and soybean extracts have found to reduce pain and level of disability and increase the mobility range in people with bone disease.

Intake of calcium supplements daily helps in maintaining bone strength and bone density, and helps in preventing osteoporosis. The nutritional supplement with SAMe (S-Adenosyl-Methionine) which is a form of the amino acid, methionine, stimulates the production of glycosaminoglycans which are important components of connective tissue. SAMe helps to maintain the quality of cartilage.

Nutritional supplement with MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) promotes healthy tissues & cells. If you suffer from osteoarthritis, try to include nutritional herbal supplements in your diet, along with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, folic acid, and vitamins D and vitamin E supplements.

Herbal supplements like turmeric and ginger have anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and flaxseed also have the same effects. Folic acid supplements decreases joint sensitivity and increases your mobility range. Vitamins D and Vitamin E supplements not only prevent the disease but also slow the progression of the disease.

Magnesium supplements are important for bone and joint health and reduce some of the side effects of high levels of calcium supplementation. Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate are extremely helpful for osteoarthritis.

If you are Rheumatoid Arthritis patient, take vitamin C supplements, herbal supplements like turmeric and ginger, and supplements with magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids. Herbal supplements, and Supplements with Vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation, while magnesium supplements can suppress the spread of the disease.


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/nutritional-supplements-for-bones-and-joints-700807.html

About the Author:
Kevin Moshayedi is an expert author, who is presently working on the site about Nutritional supplements , Body building proteins . He has written many articles in various topics. For more information about Bodybuilding nutrition . Visit our site imedmart.com

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Healthiest Tandem: Chlorella and Spirulina

Author: Alyssa Waltze

Mother nature's super green foods from the sea have been the oldest health food in the world, shared by humans and animals alike, as far as the prehistoric years. We have all evolved from the sea and the best way to supplement our vitamin and mineral deficiencies is to get them from marine plants and algae.

Spirulina is one of the first blue-green algae on Earth which is proven to be super healthy for the body. Many people in developing nations are taking Spirulina as a health supplement and its popular immune-strengthening properties have spread like wildfire all over the world. Studies say that Spirulina is better than your average soy and carrots. This means getting 60% more vegetable protein, plenty of beta carotene and a unique dose of antioxidants not found in your local produce.

Chlorella may be just another "Brain Food" , but this green algae is really helpful in making sure you have a healthy supply of red blood cells that carries oxygen to your entire body. Plants may not be the only living thing needing Chlorophyll . We need it too. What makes Chlorella great is being a mega-detoxifier, making sure our bodies get rid of those harmful toxins that make us sick.

Put these two wonder algae together and you have the purest green food that nature can give. There are very few products out there giving you the healthiest super tag team of Spirulina and Chlorella. This means you get the best of antioxidants plus detoxification.

What exactly will you get from Spirulina and Chlorella? Here are reasons why choosing both will give you the healthiest option:

Super Antioxidants

Not only will you feel good, but you will also look better. Spirulina's antioxidant powers are potent enough to fight free radicals that causes cancer in your healthy cells. This also means an added defense against premature aging. Spirulina also helps block viral diseases, and studies are being made on its effect against HIV , which causes deadly AIDS . Chlorella and Spirulina's high Beta-Carotene content, combined with other essential nutrients, will surely be your best ally in health.

Better Immune System

Both Chlorella and Spirulina gives your body an extra defense to boost your healthy lifestyle. Not only will you have a healthy blood circulation, but you will also have a reduced risk from allergic reaction brought by histamines. The high protein content, amino acids, iron and other vitamins and minerals are great for your bones and joints. Women and children suffering iron deficiency will greatly benefit from this super tandem.

Better Food Digestion

Both Spirulina and Chlorella will help your body maintain its healthy pH level. These greens rich in Alkaline will neutralize the acid found in your soda, coffee, sugar, alcohol,and meat. Chlorella gives you enzymes that are beneficial to your intestinal tract, making your body digest food efficiently.

Super Detox

Spirulina and Chlorella are both rich in Chlorophyll, which aids the body in getting rid of toxins. These smart algae will not bind to your essential nutrients, which means targeting only those wastes your body needs to flush out.

Healthier Heart

The enzymes in Spirulina and Chlorella make sure you have a healthy flow of blood, sugar and oxygen in your body. This means having a reduced risk from heart attack and stroke, which are the biggest silent killer in the world. With these algae, your body is guaranteed of great energy and metabolism for optimum health.

No one has ever reported to have side effects with Spirulina and Chlorella, and both are safe, healthy food supplements. These super green foods are not only beneficial to humans, but to our planet as well, producing more oxygen than than all the trees in the forests can ever yield.


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/healthiest-tandem-chlorella-and-spirulina-927907.html

About the Author:
Alyssa is a Health Care Professional in Hawaii and has a passion for maintaining optimal health through proper nutrition and good food choices. She is a strong believer that - Food is Medicine and Medicine should be your Food - Together with her husband, they operate Fit 4 Maui, a company that provides nutritional superfoods and simple, easy to implement lifelong wellness programs, and NanoGreens is one of the main components of their program. NanoGreens can be purchased direct from the manufacturer at NanoGreens Online. or wholesale at Nano-greens.com

Vitamin D reduces heart risk

VITAMIN D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced by the body when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis.

However, vitamin D obtained from sun exposure, food, and supplements is biologically inert and must undergo two hydroxylations in the body for activation.

The first occurs in the liver and converts vitamin D to 25-hydroxy vitamin D, also known as calcidiol. The second occurs primarily in the kidney and forms the physiologically active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D also known as calcitriol.

Vitamin D is essential for promoting calcium absorption in the intestines and maintaining adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal mineralisation of bone and prevent hypocalcemic tetany.

It is also needed for bone growth and bone remodelling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. Vitamin D sufficiency prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.

We are now going beyond the skeletal system and going into the cardiovascular system. Vitamin D it appears, is good for the heart.

A new study presented on Nov 16 at the American Heart Association's Scientific Conference in Orlando, Florida, confirmed a strong association between the presence of reduced vitamin D levels and a greater risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure and dying among men and women 50 years of age and older.

This is both new and exciting. We seldom talk about vitamin D in association with heart disease.

Dr Brent Muhlestein and his colleagues at Intermountain Medical Centre in Salt Lake City followed 27,686 subjects with no history of heart disease for an average of 1.2 years. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels obtained during routine clinical care were classified as normal at over 30 nanogrammes per milliliter (ng/mL), low at between 15 to 30 ng/mL or very low at less than 15 ng/mL.

Over the follow-up period, 2,614 participants developed coronary artery disease, 1,742 developed heart failure, 314 experienced a stroke and 1,193 deaths occurred.

Those with very low vitamin D levels were 45 per cent likelier to develop heart disease, twice as likely to develop heart failure, 78 per cent more likely to experience a stroke, and 77 per cent likelier to die than those with normal levels.

It was notable that subjects whose vitamin D levels were classified as "low" as opposed to "very low" also had greater risks of these conditions, however, the increase compared to those with normal levels was not as great as the very low group.

"This was a unique study because the association between Vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular disease has not been well-established," commented Dr Muhlestein, who is the director of cardiovascular research of Intermountain Medical Centre's Heart Institute.

"Utah's population gave us a unique pool of patients whose health histories are different than patients in previous studies," he said.

"For example, because of Utah's low use of tobacco and alcohol, we were able to narrow the focus of the study to the effects of vitamin D on the cardiovascular system.

Co-author Heidi May, PhD, who is an epidemiologist with the Intermountain Medical Centre research team noted: "We concluded that among patients 50 years of age or older, even a moderate deficiency of Vitamin D levels was associated with developing coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, and death."

"I think that this study is important because vitamin D deficiency is easily treated. Vitamin D is also somewhat inexpensive and widely available."

When you consider that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in much of the industrialised world, you could understand how this research can help improve the length and quality of people's lives.

Very few foods in nature contain vitamin D. Fish meat (particularly salmon, tuna, and mackerel) and fish liver oils are among the best sources.

Small amounts of vitamin D are found in beef liver, cheese and egg yolks. Vitamin D in these foods is primarily in the form of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and its metabolite 25(OH)D3.

Fortified foods provide most of the vitamin D in the American diet. For example, almost all of the US milk supply is fortified with 100 IU/cup of vitamin D.

In the 1930s, a milk fortification programme was implemented in the United States to combat rickets, then a major public health problem. This programme virtually eliminated the disorder at that time.

Other dairy products made from milk, such as cheese and ice cream, are generally not fortified.

Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals often contain added vitamin D, as do some brands of orange juice, yogurt, and margarine. In the US, foods allowed to be fortified with vitamin D include cereal flours and related products, milk and products made from milk, and calcium-fortified fruit juices and drinks.


Datuk Dr Rajen M. is a pharmacist with a doctorate in holistic medicine. Email him at health@po.jaring.my

Spirulina The Latest And Greatest Superfood Defined

Author: David Maillie

Spirulina is the latest and most touted superfood. It has been featured on numerous TV shows from the travel channel to Good Morning America. Spirulina is a form of bluegreen algae and happens to be the most nutritious food pound for pound known to man.

Spirulina is actually an ancient food and is 100% natural and highly nutritious algae. Recent research shows that it has great benefits for aging, cancer fighting and immune resistance. Scientists have recently discovered that this superfood has the ability to strengthen the immune system and fight problems associated with the aging process. According to Australian researchers:

Scientific studies occurring throughout the world indicate that spirulina, a blue-green algae that has been living on the planet since long before mankind, may be the best of these disease-preventing, anti-aging foods.

Spirulina was originally discovered in lakes and ponds in Africa. This spirulina was then cultured and after much research has been used in indigenous and remote areas to increase nutrition and reduce diseases like scurvy. People in indigenous and remote countries tend to have diets lacking in nutrition and substance. When treated with just a spoonful of spirulina per day it was found that nutrition and health levels greatly increased. Spirulina is now a major constituent of food and health programs all over the world.

Spirulina has been proven to boost immune systems, bolster energy and greatly reduce the risks of many different cancers and infections. According to Australian researcher Anton Moore:

As we age and our bodies change and become less efficient at getting us the nutrition we need. It becomes more important to use highly nutritious superfoods like spinach, to achieve a well balanced diet and better health. Lately, it has become quite obvious that spirulina is the key or superior superfood and should be made a main part of every diet for optimum health and to ward off disease and sickness.

Spirulina is a complete food and boasts the highest amount of protein content of any food, many times higher than soy beans, at 60 plus percent. It is also packed with vitamins, beta carotene, more antioxidants and phytonutrients than green tea (research is currently being conducted on this by the National Cancer Institute), and is basically the best food and or supplement, pound for pound, available today.

So there you have it, a complete rundown on why spirulina is the latest leader of the superfoods and for the best in health it should be added as a daily staple to your diet.


About the Author:
David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research, clynical analysis and skin care. For more information on TCA peels for in home use and other great anti-aging products and ideas please visit www.Bestskinpeel.com

Heavy Metal Detox Using Chlorella

Author: Sandra Kim Leong

You may want to consider a heavy metal detox with using chlorella, a type of green algae. If you are older, in all likelihood, you would have had dental fillings during one of your regular visits to the doctor. Do note that some experts say that one of the main causes of heavy metal toxins in the body is from amalgam dental fillings. Heavy metals can also get into your body through other sources as well. Traces of heavy metals can then enter your bloodstream and create numerous health issues.

What are harmful in the dental fillings include the mercury, cadmium, and lead that it contains. These metals bind with proteins, making them difficult to function. Many of these proteins are cell receptors, enzymes, or hormones. They all serve various functions which are now being interfered by the presence of heavy metals.

Heavy metals are associated with a whole host of neural disorders and underdevelopment in brain matter. Examples of these diseases include autism, Alzheimers, Epilepsy, irritable bowel syndrome and others. This makes detoxifying the body of these toxins very important. Research studies have also shown that the lead in these dental fillings is linked to cancer.

Chlorella has a fibrous outer shell that binds with the heavy metals in the bloodstream and assists in pulling them out of tissues. Chlorella has a cellular structure has three layers with an extremely think middle layer. This layer enables it to carry toxins out of the body directly, thus giving chlorella a unique detoxification ability.

As a source of food, chlorella has been on this earth for billions of years already. It is one of earths first plants and has the highest concentration of chlorophyll. This makes it an extremely healthy food. It is aptly called the perfect food. Based on its nutrients and composition, NASA has also decided that it will be one of the first foods that will be grown on the space station!

Other than for heavy metal detox, some studies show that chlorella stimulates the production of interferon, one of our bodys greatest defenses against cancer. It promotes T-cell activity, thereby strengthening your immune system. Additional benefits include increased vitality and energy.

You may need somewhere between three to six months for heavy metal detox with using chlorella to be complete. However, do persist as the benefits are tremendous. Chlorella can also be purchased in powder or capsule form. Ask your local health store for more information.


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/heavy-metal-detox-using-chlorella-127940.html

About the Author:
Cure your chronic symptoms with a natural body detox. Sign up to free tips and special reports by Sandra Kim Leong here at http://www.detox-cleansing-diet.com

Improve Your Health With Chlorella

Author: Darrell Miller

A lot of us eat without really thinking about the food that we are putting into our bodies. This is extremely unfortunate because diet is crucial to human health. A good diet depends on choosing what to eat and how much to eat, because otherwise food can actually harm someone.

People's food choices in Japan have significantly changed in recent years, with the Japanese diet becoming more and more like the American and European diet, leading to an increase in various diseases that are associated with the Western diet increasing in Japan. This new Japanese diet is high in protein and fat and low in fiber, just the way the Western diet is.

These dietary changes have caused an increase in body fat, sticky blood, damaged blood vessel walls, and rise in dietary-related diseases like hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipemia, cancer, heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease. These diseases are abundant in Western countries, with the number one cause of death in the United States being heart disease. It has been found that the main cause of death in many advanced countries is related to diet.

Chlorella has the ability to prevent diseases that are caused by diet. Chlorella is a type of algae, the very origin of the food chain, and is a highly regarded health-food supplement for use in maintaining the human body. Introduced to the health-food marketplace about 40 years ago, chlorella was first established in Japan and today is produced by Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Indonesia.

Not only is it used for health-food supplementation, but also in processed foods, food additives, medication additives, marine feeds, feed additives, and fertilizers. Chlorella is helpful in supplementing nutrients of high-quality, plant-based proteins, vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, and antioxidants. It has been shown to help lower cholesterol, regulate the intestines, detoxify the body, lower blood pressure, and regulate the immune system, In short, chlorella helps the human body to maintain balance.

It is likely that Chlorella appeared on the Earth many thousands of years ago. It is a fresh-water, one-celled green algae that can be found widely in lakes and marshes throughout the world. This plant was discovered and named by M.W. Beyerinck of Holland in 1890.

In size, chlorella is 2 to 10 microns, which is slightly smaller than a red blood cell. It is an ancestor of such vegetables as spinach and pumpkins. As compared to other plants, chlorella has a high concentration of chlorophyll, making its capability for photosynthesis many times higher than that of other plants. Because of its high-quality, plant-based protein, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and antioxidants, chlorella is able to maintain human health and prevent and treat disease.

Diseases including hyperlipemia, hypertension, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, heart disease, stroke, and cancer are closely related to diet. Heredity, aging, and environmental factors including chemical substances and stress are also all liked to the above diseases. These diseases are on the rise in advanced countries, with a lot of them being the most prevalent causes of death in many countries. To prevent diet-related illnesses, the diet must be balanced and lowered immune function must be improved.

The body also needs to be protected from health-threatening chemical substances and stress. Scientists have found that Chlorella is effective for balancing the diet, improving lowered cell function and resistance, and detoxifying chemicals and alleviating stress. Many diet-related diseases can be prevented and treated by simply adding Chlorella to ones diet.


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/improve-your-health-with-chlorella-606648.html

About the Author:
More information on chlorella extract is available at VitaNet ®, LLC Health Food Store. http://vitanetonline.com/

Cellulite Vitamin Supplements

By El Bilson

Taking vitamin supplements is one way to combat the appearance of cellulite. However, if a product claims to cure cellulite, beware. Vitamin supplements are an important element in fighting off cellulite but are not a cure. A low fat/high fiber diet, exercise, drinking plenty of water, and taking vitamin supplements are the most effective ways to reduce cellulite.

Scientists have found specific reasons why vitamins and minerals work against the appearance of cellulite. Vitamin C is one of the best vitamins you can take for cellulite. Vitamin C helps strengthen the skin and is a powerful detoxifier. Good food sources of Vitamin C include berries, asparagus, tomatoes and onions. While these sources of Vitamin C are good, one of the best sources of Vitamin C is citrus fruit. The recommended daily allowance for Vitamin C is 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men.

Vitamin E is another vitamin supplement that combats cellulite. Vitamin E improves circulation and helps improve the appearance of this skin. Nuts are a good source of Vitamin E and are high in protein. While high in Vitamin E, nuts also have a high fat content. If you are on a low fat diet, limit the intake of nuts and add a vitamin supplement of Vitamin E instead. Green leafy vegetables are another good source of Vitamin E and do not contain much fat at all.

Another vitamin supplement that can help is Selenium. This supplement works by improving the action of vitamins C and E. Broccoli is an excellent food source of selenium and calcium. Broccoli contains lipoid acid, which helps prevent the hardening of collagen.

In addition to selenium, calcium is another vitamin supplement that will assist in reducing cellulite. Calcium is important for fighting body fat and providing strong bones. A few good food sources of calcium are low fat yogurt, skim milk, spinach, cottage cheese, and baked beans. Calcium can also be taken in supplement form although not much is absorbed this way.

It is recommended that adults between the ages of 19-50 should have approximately 1000 mg of calcium per day. For adults over 50 years of age, the RDA is 1200 mg. per day. It is often difficult to get the RDA of vitamins and minerals in the diet alone. Vitamin supplements can help assure your body has all the vitamins and minerals it needs to fight cellulite.

While it is known that there is no one method that cures cellulite, vitamins and minerals are crucial in increasing the body's ability to maintain healthy skin elasticity. When the collagen, septa and other components of healthy skin are properly nourished, then the appearance of cellulite can decrease eventually. A long-term change in lifestyle and diet is necessary to maintain healthy, cellulite free skin. These lifestyle changes will lead to other improvements in the body as well.

Proper diet, exercise, drinking an adequate supple of water and adding vitamin supplements are the lifestyle changes that need to be made. Lifestyle changes such as reducing intake of alcohol, quitting smoking will help reduce cellulite. Also exercises such as yoga that increase blood circulation will help reduce cellulite. In addition, there is the extra-added benefit of having a healthier body over-all with these lifestyle changes.

About the Author:

Planning a trip soon and are looking to get into that swimsuit? Feeling depressed because of cellulite? You're not alone. Many women struggle with cellulite and imperfect skin. At Your Cellulite Solution you will find plenty of trips and tricks to help you deal with cellulite. You will also find more info about Cellulite Vitamin Supplements

The Benefits of White Tea

It is not just chefs but also medical researchers who are praising the benefits of white tea for your health.

In fact there are many different kinds of benefit of white tea that a person can have and we will look at some people.

But first we will provide you with a brief explanation as to what white tea is. It is made from the immature tea leaves that will be picked before the buds have fully opened on the plant.

The name comes from the silver fuzz which still covers the buds and this in turn then turns the tea white as it dries.

There are many different varieties of white tea available and this all depends on the amount of leaves to buds that are used in each mixture.

The White Peony for example has one bud for every 2 leaves in its mixture whilst Silver Needles (the crème de la crème) is made entirely from the down buds and these are normally picked within a 2 day period during early Spring.

So we have now looked at what White Tea is we will now go on to the different benefits a person can gain from using this particular product.

1. Anti-Viral and Anti-Bacterial Effects

Studies carried out at Pace University have indicated that White Tea extract may have prophylactic applications which can help to retard the growth of bacteria which can cause Staphylococcus infections, Steptococcus infections, Pneumonia and Dental Caries.

It was also found that White Tea is more effective than Green Tea at inactivating bacterial viruses as well as having an anti-viral effect on human pathogenic viruses.

2. Anti-Fungal Effect

There have been studies carried out which indicate that this has an anti-fungal effect on Penicillium Chrysogenum and Saccharomyces Cerervisiae. It was found that in the presence of White Tea extract these were totally inactivated.

3. Skin Cancer and Cell Damage Protection

Scientists have now found that the White Tea extract can protect against the Langerhans cell obliteration.

It was found that not only the extract protected skin after exposure to sunlight but also a person's immune system was restored also.

They also found that the DNA damage which occurs to cells after exposure to sunlight was limited.

It is believed that the anti-oxidant properties in the White Tea extract are the reason for it being so effective. It is also suggested that the extract may provide a person with anti-aging benefits.

So as you can see from above there are many reasons as to what the benefit of white tea can have for a person in order to help them live a much healthier and happier life.

Lee Dobbins writes for Tea at Topic Giant where you can learn more about all types of tea and tea accessories as well as find out more about the benefits of white tea.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins

Stabilized Rice Bran - A New Solution for Better Health

Stabilized Rice Bran -

Making the Effort to Eat a Healthy Breakfast

By Juan Valdez

Although we have all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, many of us skip it for one reason or another. We may not be in the mood to eat early in the morning, we might not have time, or we might be trying to cut back on calories. However, this isn't really a good idea. There are a lot of reasons why it is important to get a healthy breakfast.

If you want to have the energy to get through the morning, you should fuel up your body with a healthy breakfast. Otherwise you will be so hungry you will grab whatever might be handy, regardless of whether or not it is actually healthy or filling. Then you are more likely to end up gaining unwanted weight.

People who skip breakfast tend to end up eating more later on during the day, so that they eat more overall than the people who take the time for a healthy breakfast. That means that people trying to lose weight should eat breakfast. This way you won't feel deprived or starved when it comes time for lunch and dinner, so you won't be as likely to overeat.

Benefits of eating a healthy breakfast include being better able to concentrate, getting more vitamins and minerals, being more productive and having lower cholesterol, among others. This really is the most important meal of the day.

For a good breakfast, you should opt for a meal containing fruits or vegetables, low fat dairy, lean protein, and whole grains. Try to include two or more of these groups so you will get plenty of nutrients and feel full until it is time for the next meal.

Breakfast can be a very quick meal if you need it to be. You can even find a lot of healthy options that you can bring with you to eat on your way to your destination, or once you get there. Whole grain toast with peanut butter and an apple would be a good healthy breakfast, especially if you drink a glass of milk along with it.

People who tend to be rushed in the morning should plan ahead the night before. That way they can have breakfast all ready to go in no time at all. Breakfast can be cooked the night before and just quickly heated in the morning for the ultimate time saver.

For those who don't like typical breakfast foods, there are lots of other healthy options available. You can eat leftovers from dinner, a sandwich made from whole wheat bread, or even leftover vegetable pizza.

About the Author:

If you want to start the day off right it is important to eat a healthy breakfast. A good pancake mix can be the perfect center for your breakfast, along with fruit, eggs, and milk.

Protect Yourself from the Effects of a Fatty Liver

By Fennie Yap

THE liver is the largest internal organ of the human body. The major function of the liver is to remove toxic materials and waste materials out of our bodies.

As blood is filtered through it, the liver removes all bacteria, dead cells, and waste materials, as well as toxic materials that we ingest, breathe in or absorb through the skin. Other than purifying the blood, the liver also synthesises bile juice for digestion of fat. It stores energy, vitamins and minerals. It synthesises blood clotting factors and regulates blood sugar levels and cholesterol level.

It goes without saying that it is very important to maintain healthy liver performance.

One of the most common problems that can affect the liver is fatty liver, and it is estimated to affect approximately 17% of Malaysians.

What is fatty liver?

A healthy liver usually consists of 2% to 5% fat. If fat in the liver accumulates over 5% of liver weight, this is called fatty liver, or in medical terms, “steatosis”. When fat exceeds 10% of liver weight, the fat cells can damage liver cells.

Fatty liver can develop in three different stages:

1. Simple fatty liver disease (steatosis)

The liver progressively accumulates fat and damage to liver cells begins. This is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Most show no symptoms or very vague symptoms. At this stage, there is commonly no enlargement of the liver.

2. NASH (Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis)

Excessive fat accumulation causes inflammation of the liver cells and eventually damages liver cells. Dead liver cells form scar tissues.

3. Cirrhosis (hardening of the liver)

Excessive scarring of liver tissues causes hardening of the liver. The liver fails to perform properly. Cirrhosis can be life-threatening.

There are several factors that increase the risk of fatty liver:

1. Type 2 diabetes

Statistics show that 88% of type 2 diabetes patients develop NAFLD.

2. Overweight

A person is considered overweight when his Body Mass Index (BMI) is between 23 and 27.4. Fat in the organ does increase in proportion with body fat percentage. Approximately 37.4% of NAFLD patients are found to be overweight.

3. Obese

Obesity occurs when a person’s BMI exceeds 27.5. According to statistics, NAFLD is found in 80% of obese patients.

4. High cholesterol

About 63% of NAFLD patients are found to have high cholesterol.

5. High triglycerides

About 55.4% of NAFLD patients are found to have high triglycerides.

6. Malnutrition

Nutrition deficiencies caused by poor diet and rapid weight loss can increase triglyceride levels in the blood.

7. Alcohol drinkers

Consuming more than 60g of alcohol per day is considered as excessive alcohol intake. Statistics indicate that 90% to 100% of heavy alcoholic drinkers develop fatty liver disease. Fatty liver disease caused by abusive intake of alcohol is called alcoholic fatty liver diseaase (AFLD).

The potential health problems that are posed by NAFLD should not be taken lightly, especially for those who suffer from metabolic problems as mentioned above.

There are many tests available to assess the condition of the liver. The liver function test measures enzyme level increase caused by fatty liver. Imaging modalities such as ultrasound, MRI, and CT scan are non-invasive options. Biopsy can conclusively diagnose NAFLD by collecting tissue sample from the liver and observing the tissue under a microscope.

Maintaining a healthy liver

Diet and lifestyle are the most fundamental ways of controlling or preventing fatty liver disease. Here are some tips for maintaining a healthy liver and preventing fatty liver disease:

1. Consume food with low glycaemic index (GI) and avoid food with high GI.

Food with GI of more than 55 are considered high GI food while food with GI lower than 55 are low GI food. Examples of high GI food are candies, white bread, potatoes, white sugar, white rice, etc. Examples of low GI food are apples, wholemeal bread, oats, etc.

2. Low fat diet

Fat should not exceed 20% of our total daily calorie intake. A high fat diet will increase triglyceride levels in the blood and therefore increases the risk of fatty liver.

3. High fibre diet

Increase intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, oats and grains, and reduce refined and highly processed food. A diet high in fibre can help reduce blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and therefore reduce risk of fatty liver.

4. Regular exercise

Maintain moderate to high intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes per session, at least three times a week. Exercise is the most effective way to bring down blood sugar and maintain a healthy body weight.

5. Healthy weight loss

If you are overweight or obese, maintain a low fat diet and cut down calorie intake by 500kcal to 1000kcal daily. Do not starve yourself to lose weight as this will cause malnutrition and actually increases triglyceride level. A healthy weight loss aim is to reduce approximately 1-1.5kg per week.

6. Avoid alcohol

This is especially for those who have alcohol-induced fatty liver disease. Abstain from alcohol altogether.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids, also known as essential phospholipids (EPL), are vital nutrients to support healthy liver cells. EPL is one of the major constituents of liver cell membranes. The cell membrane is the protective layer of the cell. Sufficiency of EPL in cell membranes determines the optimum function of the cell.

When liver cells are inflamed, EPL is lost and destroyed, causing loss of cell structure, loss of cell function, and eventually death of cell.

In modern science, EPL oral administration is found to have protective, curative, and regenerative effects on the membranes of liver cells.

References:

1. Amarapurkar, D.N. et al. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2007

2. Falck-Ytter Y, Thiruppathi S, Dasarathy S, Rogers N, McCollough AJ. Hepatology 2006

3. emedicine: Alcoholic Fatty Liver - article by Ismail, M.K. and Riely, C. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/170409-overview. Accessed Sept 2009.

4. Malik, A. et al Journal of Digestive Diseases 2007

Fennie Yap is a nutritionist. This article is courtesy of sanofi-aventis. The views expressed are those of the writer and readers are advised to always consult expert advice before undertaking any changes to their lifestyles.